Apathy corrodes society, B1
Bittinger appointed to BOG, C1
Review: Local band releases EP, D1
Field hockey to defend title, E1(2)
@ShipUSlate Tuesday
Wednesday
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The Slate @ShipUSlate
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Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Reporting truth. Serving our community.
Volume 63 No. 1
Class of 2023 encouraged to make memories Hannah Pollock Managing Editor
Jonathan Bergmueller /The Slate
SU community members helped new students move in last Wednesday.
Shippensburg University welcomed the class of 2023 in a jam-packed week of activities during Fall Welcome Week. Fall Welcome Week kicked off with move-in day on a hot Wednesday afternoon at which new students received their keys to their dorms. Students, families and their tightly packed cars were met with the helping hands and oversized carts of Shippensburg University staff, faculty, Raider Marching Band and athletic teams, who pitched in to move students’ belongings. Members of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) provided
water outside of the residence halls. Aiding move-in day at the desk in the lobby of Naugle Hall was desk assistant and biology major Shy’Teaire Nickens. Naugle Hall houses mostly freshmen. “I became a desk assistant so I can give freshmen directions to help them succeed,” Nickens said. “It is very easy to get lost during your first year of college,” she added. “It’s important to get involved.” Early Friday morning, the class of 2023 gathered in the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center for the convocation ceremony. After the procession of administrators and faculty and a brief welcome from Donta Truss, senior vice president of student affairs and stu-
dent services, Shippensburg University President Laurie Carter gave her welcome message to the class of 2023. She welcomed the new students and praised them for the “immense potential” they carried. Carter encouraged the students to make memories, as “life is measured by memories.” “These memories will be filled with success and failures. No one is less important that the other,” Carter said. Following Carter was Tom Ormond, new provost and vice president for academic affairs, who told students to get a physical calendar and circle their graduation date as a form of motivation and goal setting. See “WELCOME,” A2
Students present summer research during welcome week Hannah Pollock Managing Editor
While most Shippensburg University students spent their summers relaxing at home, traveling or working, a group of student researchers spent their time completing academic research projects. The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Program began in summer 2012 when a group of faculty and administrators wanted to give undergraduates the opportunity to do professional-level academic research over the summer through grants. Marc Renault, chair of the SURE committee, explained the opportunity for students and faculty to share in research. “The idea is that many faculty members use the summer to do their own professional research,” Renault said. “That research could benefit from having a re-
search assistant.” Students are often introduced to the SURE program during the school year. “Typically, the student may have already done a little work with a faculty member that they’ve gotten to know and like,” Renault said. Then, both faculty and student must submit a joint application, committing to the project. “So far, we’ve been able to fund all of the applications,” Renault said. “However, we’re at a point now where the total amount requested exactly meets the total amount available and there may come a time where the SURE application process becomes much more competitive.” The program is funded by the provost and academic deans. In order to receive funding, student-faculty pairs must submit a join application. If funding is awarded, then the student
receives a stipend for up to $750 for 100 hours of summer research work. Research over the summer creates a different experience for the students. “The summer provides more time to really get invested in a research project. These projects are at a high level — these are projects that the faculty members are working on themselves,” Renault said. He noted it is often difficult to devote a large amount of time to the projects during the school year. By completing the research over the summer, students can devote more time, energy and concentration into the projects. According to Renault, 2019 is the largest group of students to participate. Eighteen students and 19 faculty members participated in the program. See “SURE,” A2
Shippensburg to hold Corn Festival Hannah Pollock Managing Editor
Crafts, fair food, entertainment and all the corn imaginable will fill King Street on Saturday, as the Shippensburg Corn Festival returns. The event typically garners thousands of visitors, who stroll down King Street in search of the perfect craft — or cob of corn. The festival was created by the Shippensburg Heritage and Recreation Planning Society (SHARP) to promote awareness and preserve the town’s rich heritage and architectural legacy, according to its website. SHARP members Ruth Friedline and Rose Dillner’s idea developed into a festival focusing on the area’s largest crop, corn, according to the website. More than 200 craft vendors, a wide variety of food and a lineup of dancers, an antique car show and bands and demonstrations will fill King Street. The festival, which is always held the last Saturday in August, typically falls at the end of Fall Welcome Week before classes begin. However, this year the festival will take place Labor Day Weekend, after the completions of Shippensburg University students’ first week of classes. Returning again this year, is the popular “Corn Eating Contest,” at which contestants attempt to eat as many cobs of corn as possible in three minutes. The contest will take place at the main stage near King and Earl Street during the middle of the “MidLife Cowboys” performance which begins at 11:45 a.m., according to the festival’s website. The 39th Annual Shippensburg Corn Festival will be held Saturday, Aug. 31 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. in downtown Shippensburg. Admission is free and the event is held rain or shine. For more information about the festival, visit shippensburgcornfestival.net.
Hannah Pollock /The Slate
Shippensburg University President Laurie Carter addresses new students Friday morning during the annual welcome week convocation ceremony.
President Carter welcomes students back to campus Welcome back, students! I hope you had an enjoyable summer. On campus, we spent our summer dutifully preparing for your return, the incoming class of 2023, and the launching of our 149th academic year. As you get around campus, you will see an updated McLean Hall; additions to Mowrey Hall, including a new lift for the differently-abled; and an updated Century Café. We have added Raider pride branding to Seth Grove Stadium and Heiges Field House. The renovations of the steam plant to house our engineering programs; the makeover in Gilbert Hall, home of many of our multicultural programs; and the new Raider Academic Center for Student-Athletes are all underway to better support students. We have listened to you and are working to help you further succeed by adding more textbook scholarships, free laundry for students living in residence halls, and lower housing options for students who desire the supportive environment of living on campus but cannot afford the cost of the newer housing choices. And we won’t stop there. We continue to ask for your feedback. Look out for future emails detailing when to attend a President’s Hour, sign up for a Convo with Carter, or use our online suggestion box. We also move into this year with many initiatives underway that ensure your Ship education is a quality experience. In particular, this year, we are launching a new holistic wellness initiative, a collaboration between Student Affairs and the fraternity
and sorority community that is celebrating its 60th year at Ship. Make sure to take advantage of the many fitness opportunities, healthy eating options, and activities that help you relieve stress in healthy ways. I have committed to leading a cycling class once a month! I hope you will join me, and I invite you to share your wellness passion with the campus community, as well. With environmental wellness as a focus, all students with a meal plan get a Ship reusable straw. We have a lot to do this year, but we will do it together, like our tradition of offering support to the community that so graciously supports us. On the morning of Sept. 7, I hope you will join me for Ship’s day of service. Our day of service demonstrates our continued commitment to community engagement, one of our four university priorities. In addition, I encourage you to get downtown and enjoy the festivities of the community’s annual Corn Festival this Saturday, Aug. 31. Then, on each first Friday of the month this fall, participate with downtown businesses from 4:30-7:30 p.m. with the Ticket to Downtown program, where local merchants offer discounts to shoppers. Lastly, our Parents and Family Celebration is just around the corner. Please invite your family to celebrate the day with us. Share your Ship experience with them, and enjoy special activities and entertainment throughout the day. I wish you all a productive and fulfilling academic year. Before you know it, it will be May. Have a great year!
NEWS
A2
August 27, 2019
SGA President tells students to ‘be the role model you needed’ To the Shippensburg Community,
Hannah Pollock /The Slate
Alexis Weitzel speaks with new students about her Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) project. Weitzel studied “Characterization of a Human G protein-coupled receptor.” SURE student and faculty researchers presented Thursday during the Success Now! Expo during fall Welcome Week. “SURE,” from A1 The areas of study of the student researchers vary from chemistry, biology, psychology, English and math. Geography and earth science professor Alison Feeney partnered with Carla Kungl, professor of English and students Bess Points and Abigail Kauffman for their project, “Collecting, mapping and analyzing wild yeast strains with technical writing and
laboratory procedures for the craft beer industry.” Feeney, who has participated in multiple SURE projects, said by partnering with other departments, they are “blending expertise” and are able to accomplish more. “The students are excited and that keeps me motivated,” Feeney said. Points said it was exciting to use programs and skills taught in class and apply them on a real-life project.
“WELCOME,” from A1 Council of Trustees Student Trustee Stephen Washington told his fellow shipmates, “we cannot make our dreams a reality by following the status quo.” Political science professor Alison Dagnes urged students to listen to other perspectives during the convocation address. “Most people flock together like birds that think and act like them. It is a not so good way to go through life or college,” Dagnes said. “It is important to get others’ perspectives.” The ceremony ended with the academic pledge and pinning ceremony and a rendition of the alma mater. On Friday night, students gathered at Seth
“For many, they discover the excitement of research when they discover new things and answer questions that hadn’t been answered before,” Renault said. Students and faculty presented their SURE projects at the Success Now! Expo during Fall Welcome Week. For more information on SURE, visit ship.edu/student_research/sure/sure/
Grove Stadium for the Raider Rumble. The evening included a dance competition, band performance, fireworks and a carnival. On Saturday students were encouraged to walk downtown to interact with local businesses for the first ever “Ticket to Downtown.” According to the Shippensburg Chamber of Commerce, students were encouraged to visit downtown merchants and post selfies with a poster to be entered into contests. Throughout the afternoon, winners were announced via Shippensburg University’s Twitter account. Ship-O-Rama, “an outdoor music fest” which included live music, a pizza contest and lawn games, as well as Breakfast Bingo were held for students on Saturday.
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Pennsylvania House wins appeal in atheist prayer-policy suit Marc Levy
Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) A federal appeals court reversed a lower court decision and ruled Friday that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ policy of barring atheists from delivering invocations does not violate the U.S. Constitution. Friday’s decision by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds the Pennsylvania House’s policy of limiting prayers at the start of legislative sessions to guest chaplains who believe in God or a divine or higher power. It reverses last year’s decision by a district judge, who sided with the atheists, agnostics, freethinkers and humanists who sued. The judge ruled that the restrictions violated constitutional prohibitions on making laws that establish a religion. After the guest chaplain policy was blocked, House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, began assigning the invocation to House members. The plaintiffs were never invited to give an invocation. The appeals court’s 2-1 majority said the policy did not violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment because it fits within the “historical tradition of legislative prayer’’ and counts as government speech that is protected from a free speech or equal protection challenge. The Pennsylvania House’s policy to limit the opening prayer to religious prayer fits within the tradition long followed in Congress, a tradition that the U.S. Supreme Court has relied on previously to uphold legislative prayer, the appeals court’s majority wrote. “The House’s practice of beginning its legislative sessions with prayer dates back to the earliest days of our commonwealth and our nation and the current House practice is simply a continuation of that historical tradition,’’ said Karl Myers, a Philadelphia-based
lawyer who argued the case for Turzai. One of the plaintiffs, web developer Brian Fields, reacted to the decision on Twitter, calling it “very disappointing.’’ The plaintiffs —seven individuals and four organizations —sued after they sought to give the invocation and were rejected because they do not believe in God, their lawyer said. “The court has permitted the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to discriminate based on religion against people who do not believe in a god,’’ said Alex Luchenitser, a lawyer for the Washington-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State who argued the case for the plaintiffs. The court relied heavily on historical practice in reaching a decision, Luchenitser said, but that doesn’t mean that historical practice is right. The majority opinion also cited a June decision in the U.S. Supreme Court that allowed a World War I memorial in the shape of a 40-foot-tall cross to continue to stand on public land in Maryland. In that decision, the appeals court wrote, the Supreme Court “expanded its historical framework beyond the confines of legislative prayer’’ and established a presumption of constitutionality for longstanding monuments, symbols and practices. “Indeed, our Court just reiterated the ‘strong presumption of constitutionality’ for practices like the one before us,’’ the appeals court wrote. Turzai and the other defendants had argued that the policy did not violate the establishment clause because it allowed people of different faiths to give the invocation and, as a result, did not favor any one religion. If there is a silver lining, Luchenitser said, it is that the court’s decision is limited to legislative prayer and prohibits the Pennsylvania House from discriminating based on religion among people who believe in god.
For those returning, I wish you a warm welcome back to our beloved campus and for another great year. For the Class of 2023, allow me to be yet another member of your SHIP family to say congratulations to both your acceptance and for your courage in embarking on a new journey in life. Whether a person is a first-year student or an incoming senior, we all have made the transition from high school to college in some way. We decided that in order to better ourselves in the long run, we were required to forgo an adventure not many on this planet can do; if the world were one hundred people, only seven individuals would have a college degree. I share this statistic from the 100 People Foundation—pro tip: always cite your work—to remind you that, while the culture in the U.S is “everyone goes to college”, not everyone in the world has the same opportunity. In that mindset of understanding where we sit on the world stage as we fight to join the seven people with a degree, I wish to share with you the advice I needed to hear during my first semester attending SHIP. First, know that you are so, incredibly smart. Too many people either do not realize this fast enough or hide their intellect because our society determines it is “not cool” to be nerd. But we all have a niche in which thrive in academically;
I found my passion for political science early on, and I hope you not only do the same but are proud of it and share it with the world. Second, there will be days when you do not want to be here, and they will be the worst of your experience. The days will come when you feel as if you are alone and the only one struggling, and it is in those moments you must remember that you are not: we all are going through this together. Every one of us have those days, but I encourage you to reach out to your support system and the staff of this institution to assist you. Our Student Government is but one of many outlets you have on campus that is here to promote your well-being. Finally, in the words of a former SU student, be the role model you needed. When you are out-and-about with friends and a decision appears before you, make the decision you know is right. Because it is one thing to get a degree at Shippensburg University, but it is another thing to earn a degree. Study hard, sleep well, have fun, and know when you need to prioritize your academics over your social life in order to do right by yourself and ensure your success for the future. I live on-campus, and so if you see me around do not hesitate to say hello! Best, Aven O. Bittinger
Check out a feature on Aven Bittinger on C1 in Ship Life!
The Slate welcomes back students, reaffirms duty to inform community Hello students, Allow me to add mine to the chorus of voices welcoming you to Shippensburg University for the Fall 2019 semester. My name is Jon Bergmueller, and I am the editor-in-chief of The Slate for the coming school year. We are very excited to deliver your news to you. This summer, Managing Editor Hannah Pollock and I doubled-down to redefine what The Slate’s identity is and what our purpose on this campus is by revising our organization’s constitution. We kept in mind the lessons of the past and what our predecessors, Jenna Wise and Molly Foster, taught us before hiring us for our roles. We added a few things, changed the wording here and there, and removed outdated parts. We talked a lot about our identity as a college newspaper. The Slate has been, is and ever shall be an independent student-run on-campus newspaper. Our job is to inform the campus and town about what is going on in their community. We do this out of a sense of duty to improve this institution before we leave it by educating the people who go here. In my time at The Slate, the
organization has published a great deal of wonderful stories about extraordinary people and things going on. We love sharing good news! But with that comes the duty of writing sometimes not-sogood news. If it happens here and affects the people who spend their days here, we’re going to be here to cover it. Understand we have a job to do. During my summer internship with Shippensburg University Magazine, I did some research at the library for the “From the Vault” segment, which required me to look up interesting things that happened on campus decades ago. The individual I spoke with at the library, without knowing my affiliation to this paper, explained that one of the first places they point researchers looking for historical information on campus is The Slate. This goes to show the value our newspaper has to this campus — quite literally, we document history for future generations. Myself and my fellow “Slaters” can leave this institution knowing that historians may someday read our stories to know what it was like during the late teens and early 20’s of this century. Hopefully we will have done a good job of it.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading this issue of The Slate, especially in an ever-tumultuous landscape of “fake news,” and “alternative facts” where printed news is receding. If reading paper news isn’t your thing, why don’t you take a look at our website, theslateonline.com? We upload all our written stories, and you can also find exclusive videos and galleries there as well. Just remember — It is the continued support of this community that allows us to document the history of this campus, one byline at a time. I’ll end with a quote from a mentor and dear friend of mine, Joseph Naughton: “Every year is a process, and every process is different.” He also said something about open-mindedness and patience, and probably accompanied all that with a silly pun. It’s advice I’m going to stick to, and I encourage everyone reading this to keep his words in mind as well. Have a good semester, and if you see me or any of The Slate staff around campus, please feel free to say “hi,” Jonathan Bergmueller
Interested in joining The Slate? The Slate General Interest Meeting September 4 at 9:30 p.m. Ceddia Union Building Room 119 Come meet our staff and learn more about how you can get involved. After the meeting, pizza and a tour of The Slate office will be offered.
Open positions:
Asst. Section Editors Asst. Public Relations Directors Asst. Copy Editor Web Director Asst. Advertising Director Asst. Business Managers Staff Writers Staff Photographers Questions? Email slate.circpr@gmail.com.
August 27, 2019
NEWS
Campus Police Briefs Student cited for underage drinking
A3
Your World Today
Commentary: Student involvement necessary to create desired campus
SU police observed a male traveling on a skateboard at a high rate of speed down Adams Drive around midnight on Aug. 26. Police say the skateboarder fell off his board and officers went to help him. Officers identified the male as Colin D. Asper, of Seavers Hall. While assisting Asper, police say there was an alcoholic odor coming from him. Asper took a breathalyzer test which indicated an estimated BAC of .133%, according to police. He was cited for underage drinking and escorted back to his dorm. Student cited for underage drinking SU officers were on patrol when they observed a female walking on Dauphin Drive around 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 25. They noticed she was having trouble maintaining her balance and officers said she fell off the sidewalk near Shippen Hall. Officers stopped to help her, identifying her as Linsey R. Catherson of Naugle Hall, and noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from her. Catherson took a breathalyzer test which indicated an estimated BAC of .148%. She was cited for underage drinking and escorted back to her dorm. Student to be charged with underage drinking and possession of drug paraphernalia SU police responded to an emergency call box activation near the walking path on Old Main Drive around 1 a.m. Aug. 25. Police said officers observed a male running toward Hoffman Mills, identified as Daniel J. Collier of Warmister, Pennsylvania. According to police, Collier had a strong odor of alcohol and was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was escorted back to Hot Point Commons and charges will be filed for underage drinking and possession of drug paraphernalia. Student to be charged with possession of marijuana SU police were called on Aug. 25 just after midnight to assist officers from the Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement in the L2 parking lot who were in a foot pursuit with a male wearing a backpack. The Liquor Control Enforcement Officer lost sight of the male but police say he dropped his backpack as he was running away. Officer searched the backpack and found a small container of a green leafy substance, later identified to be marijuana. The male was identified as Keaton A. Morris. He will be charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana. Student cited for underage drinking SU police were dispatched near Memorial Auditorium around 11 p.m. on Aug. 24 for a male sitting on a bench vomiting. When officers arrived, they identified the male as Luke B. Williams. Police said Williams had vomited on his clothes and cell phone and had a strong odor of alcohol coming from him, as well as slurred speech and glassy eyes. Williams took a breathalyzer test which indicated an estimated BAC of .249 % and was transported to Chambersburg Hospital for treatment. He will receive a citation for underage drinking.
Jonathan Bergmueller Editor-in-Chief As the new editor-in-chief of this paper, it falls upon me to carry on the “Your World Today,” column started by previous editor-in-chief Troy Okum and continued by my predecessor, Jenna Wise, to continue discussing topics of importance to Shippensburg University and its community. I have covered around 50 stories, excluding reviews and commentaries, in my tenure at The Slate. Most of the time, these stories required me to meet new people and interview them. Believe me when I tell you I have met some of the best and brightest people at this university who will go on to do extraordinary things when they leave this place. But a recurring theme is that no matter how many great student leaders emerge from each class, there are droves of other students with no affiliation within the university. These students coast by without ever joining a student group, and it harms themselves and the university.
We see it in campus media, where groups like The Slate or SUTV or WSYC can never find enough hands to distribute the load. It is true that it makes it that much more impressive that we put out the quality of work we do; however, I can’t help but ask myself how much more we could do if we had eager peers who wanted to come help us provide information and entertainment to this campus. It isn’t a problem exclusive to my major. However, this spring I was disappointed to learn that of the five positions on the Student Government Association’s Executive Rules Committee, three candidates ran unopposed and the other two were races between two candidates. For the senatorial elections, six positions had two candidates, seven had one, and five positions had no candidates running for them when the senators delivered their speeches. I have faith that the candidates elected or appointed to the positions will do their jobs and do them well; however, it goes to show the lack of interest the student body has in advocating for themselves and their classmates. This list goes on and on. No matter what story I cover, I see it everywhere: Student organizations all struggle to recruit new members. And it is a shame, because student
groups are the cornerstone of the community of this campus. From SGA to campus media to groups related to the arts to Greek Life and beyond, we, the students, make Shippensburg University the great institution it is. I am a very firm believer in grassroots movements to spur change. It doesn’t matter how competent an administration is at implementing change — a university’s culture and environment cannot improve unless the students are involved in that process. It just cannot happen from the top-down. All students here have a stake in this game, and everyone has a reason to want to better the university, whether it is by becoming SGA president or playing the third tree from the left in a theater production. We live here and spend our money here and (hopefully) learn a thing or two by the time we leave, if all is working. I implore all students reading this to leave their dorms, turn off the Netflix and put down the Xbox controllers to find a group to be involved in. It doesn’t matter if it is a musical ensemble, student government, or even campus media (The Slate is hiring!). Do your part to help develop the culture of this community. Do your part to contribute to making this university a place worth coming to.
Student cited for underage drinking SU officers were on patrol in the G1 parking lot around 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 24 when they reported seeing a male walking with a blue solo cup. He was identified at Nahom T. Kelati. Officers reported an amber color liquid in the cup with an odor of alcohol. According to police, when asked what was in the cup, Kelati replied, “beer.” Officers administered a breathalyzer test which indicated an estimated BAC of .033 %. Kelati was released and will be cited for underage drinking. Student cited for underage drinking SU police were on patrol near Memorial Auditorium on Aug. 24 around 1:45 a.m. when they said they witnessed a male in a grassy area getting up from the ground. Police stopped and asked the male, who was identified as Tristan Gray, of Lackhove Hall, to speak with them. During the conversation, police said there was a strong odor of alcohol coming from Gray. Gray admitted to being intoxicated several times during the conversation, according to police. Police administered a breathalyzer test which indicated an estimated BAC of .186 %. Gray was taken back to the SU Police Department for processing, issued a citation for underage drinking and escorted back to his dorm. Student to be charged with drug paraphernalia SU police responded to a fire alarm on Aug. 22 in Room 414 Lackhove Hall shortly after 1 a.m. Police entered the room to check for a fire and reported that the room had a very strong odor of burnt marijuana. Police checked the “B” room where officers reported a jar with a green leafy substance later identified to be marijuana, an ashtray with a burnt cigar which also smelled like marijuana. The residents of the room were identified to be either Stephen Jones or Taalib-Din Mackie, neither of whom returned to the room following the alarm, police said. Charges will be filed for both Jones and Mackie for possession of marijuana.
This Week on Campus Job Fair
Target After Hours
APB Movie
• A part time and on campus job fair will be held Tuesday from 3 — 5 p.m. in CUB 100 MPR.
• APB is providing a trip to Target in Carlisle for students to shop at the store after hours at 10 p.m. on Thursday.
• APB is screening a movie Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Orndorff Theatre. The movie starts at 9 p.m.
Corn Festival
Cookout
SIS Fair
• The 39th Annual Shippensburg Corn Festival will be held Saturday just off campus on King Street. The festival runs from 8 a.m. — 4 p.m.
• Sigma Gamma RHO will hold its annual Labor Day Cookout at the hockey rink on September 2 from 2— 7 p.m.
• The Student Involvement and Services Fair is Tuesday, September 3 from 6 p.m. — 8 p.m. in CUB 100 MPR.
State Police Briefs Man charged with driving under the influence Pennsylvania State Police pulled over a man for traffic violations on Middle Spring Avenue in Shippensburg Township shortly after 9 p.m. on Aug. 24. Michael Lehman, 59, of Chambersburg, was arrested and will be charged with driving under the influence in District Court. Man charged with driving under the influence Pennsylvania State Police reported that officers pulled over a man for traffic violations on at Newville and Duncan Roads in Southampton Township shortly after 10 p.m. on Aug. 22. James Myers, 49, of Carlisle, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and will be charged in District Court. File photo/The Slate
B1
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Opinion The Slate Speaks
The corrosive spirit of apathy Just because something does not affect you does not mean it is not happening. Crisis is a part of the human experience. As students who are entering adulthood, certain things can seem challenging to us. How do we navigate through a certain crisis that we will surely face in our lives? How will we face problems that involve balancing school with our social lives? Young people have a lot of power in everything that they do, hence the phrase ‘actions speak louder than words.’ However, we cannot act if we do not care, and we cannot care if we are not informed. Years ago, when something tragic such as the 9/11 attacks on America occurred, we would hear about it for weeks on end until, finally, our political leaders and the people of national importance stepped in and did something to solve the problem.
However, with the growth of the internet and the introduction of social media, the news production cycle eventually became shorter. News is produced much faster today than ever before, which creates a constant rotation of information overload. We have lost our ability to connect to the situation because as soon as something happens, it disappears under the overflow of new news. We see this problem in the recent news that the Amazon has been on fire for about four weeks. Meanwhile, activity on Facebook, Twitter and other media outlets have flooded the news scene with information about other things. One such example is the recent break between Sony and Marvel over the ownership rights of Spider-Man. News that is important is sometimes overshadowed by news that holds cultural appeal.
What exasperates this is the ease with which individuals can become commentators. It is easier than ever to draft emails to people of political influence, especially with the advent of bots that can send the same letter to all congressmen and women at once with the click of one button. This creates a disingenuous environment where politicians might not even be able to read all emails and letters sent to them because of the sheer amount that are able to be produced. While some of the blame can be placed on the news media and its three-day coverage of the latest outrage, we need to remember that we, everyday people, bear some of the responsibility of this problem. We are the ones who share memes, funny videos and celebrity drama on our social media accounts, which are now also the dominant
platforms for sharing news. This quickly becomes a happy distraction from the issues that significantly impact us and the world around us, even if they are negative. We must remember that we can choose to combat the problem of apathy, but only if we decide that we want to have that power. It is admittedly true there is nothing we as individuals can personally do to stop the Amazon from burning. Our water buckets are too small and we lack the transportation to travel there. We can each do our part to decrease the amount of clutter in our news landscape by focusing on sharing news stories about topics that involve us and our communities. Sharing news stories surrounding issues of importance to us will help raise awareness and ensure these problems are not forgotten.
Young voters have the power Nicholas Sones Opinion Editor
If only young voters under the age of 40 voted in the previous presidential election, Donald Trump would not have become president, according to CNN exit polling data. I have neither the intention of rehashing the problems with the current politi-
cal situation in America nor the issue of the ongoing national security threat posed by Donald Trump on the nation. What I want to strive for is to encourage young people to vote. Looking at the polling on global warming, young people believe that global warming is man-made, and when looking at the science behind global warming, it is one of
the greatest threats facing not the United States but the entire world. The fate of the world is at stake; young people and, especially, those living in the United States have the ability to take concrete steps towards solving this problem. Flashback to election night of 2016, if only those under the age of 40 voted, the electoral college would have
awarded Hillary Clinton 403 votes and she would have been inaugurated. For individuals under the age of 40, they would have shown the power they hold in the election. Now is the time for those said individuals to claim their power and use it by voting in not only presidential elections, but in every election in the future.
The only way to fight apathy is to create a presence for yourself in everything you do. Allow yourself to be passionate about something that affects the world, and pursue it. Raise awareness for the issues that matter to you and your community, and do not pawn off your attention for someone else’s gain. Neil Postman put it this way in his bestselling book in 1985: “Amusing ourselves to death: Public discourse in the age of show business,” talking on the topic of George Orwell and Aldous Huxley: “... Orwell feared what we fear will ruin us. Huxley feared that our desire will ruin us.” Our desire to be entertained and not burdened with bad news is overcoming the necessity to be informed about what is affecting us, and it is creating a generation of individuals apathetic to the plights of others around the world.
Letter to the Editor: HBO’s ‘Divorce’ is humiliating as an SU alumnus Editor’s note: the following letter is in referenece to Episode 3, “Bad Manners,” of Season 3 in the HBO special, “Divorce,” which mentions Shippensburg University by name. Dear Editor: Sarah Jessica Parker’s “Divorce” (great Season 3, by the way) just tossed the final fragmentation grenade of humiliation at me: Her son can’t get into college anywhere, so the high school counselor suggests “Shippensburg? Nice little town. Do you like cows?” FYI, Shippensburg is my undergraduate alma mater. Well I’m the proud owner of a brand-new box of crayons and I’m going to write colorful words to Ms. Parker and send it first class mail. She’ll find out that Senator Jeanne Shaheen went to Shippensburg, as did Dean Koontz, and also Gen. Tommy Franks, who got his master’s there. They’re all halfwit yahoos like me, but we’re people too. I feel raped, and I’m going to find a safe place now and play with teddy bears. Some Brown undergraduates will be there too. (They were deeply traumatized by Seinfeld reruns that featured the Soup Nazi.) Sincerely, Scott South (‘80)
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Letters should be sent to The Slate one week prior to the day of publication. Late letters may be accepted but published the next week.
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The views and opinions expressed in this section are those of the writer and not of The Slate or Shippensburg University.
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The unsigned staff editorial, “The Slate Speaks,” represents the views and opinions of The Slate as an organization. Participating editors help shape the staff editorial.
THESLATEONLINE.COM Reporting truth. Serving our community. Contact Us (717) 477-1778 Mailing Address The Slate - Shippensburg University CUB Box 106 1871 Old Main Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257 Office Location Ceddia Union Building Room 250 Shippensburg University Adviser Dr. Michael Drager About The Slate The Slate is an independent, weekly, volunteer, student-run newspaper published by the Gettysburg Times. Its print edition is published on Tuesdays and its website, theslateonline.com, is maintained 24/7. Weekly meetings are held on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. in The Slate office. All are welcome to attend, but we ask you notify management ahead of time. Staff positions are held on either a one semester or one academic-year term. There are no term limits. The Slate hires new members throughout
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Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Ship Life
C1
Jonathan Bergmueller/The Slate
Aven Bittinger (left) discusses the many resources for students that can be found throughout the Ceddia Union Building (CUB) with students (from left) Sierra Carry, Isabela Ramirez, Breann Torres and Kaitlyn Mentzer. Students can find out more information at the front desk located on the bottom floor of the CUB.
SGA president vows for advocacy Jonathan Bergmueller Editor-in-Chief
You may have seen him around campus, but then again that could have been his twin brother. Aven Bittinger, Student Government Association President, has been appointed to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Board of Governors by Gov. Tom Wolf to advocate for the interests of his fellow students in the real world. Bittinger, a 21-year-old senior political science major with a minor in history who hails from Parker, Pennsylvania, is all about advocacy. Initially a Resident Assistant (RA) in Naugle Hall on campus, Bittinger eventually made his way to Shippensburg University’s Student Government Association (SGA) to fill in for the RHA senator who had resigned. Bittinger later ran for SGA President, but initially lost. His hopes for SGA presidency were reignited, however, when Makayla Glass, his opponent who won the election, resigned from the position and voting re-opened. Bittinger won the second vote. On top of being in SGA, Bittinger is an RA in Mc-
Clean Hall this year. In the past, he has been a member of ShipVotes, the SU College Democrats and the Disciplinary Board. “Shippensburg University’s Student Government Association was built on the idea of being advocators for the students on campus and it’s something I think we all pride ourselves on being a part of,” Bittinger said. While president of SGA, Bittinger wants to accomplish a few personal goals. He wants to help SGA redefine the “why” of existing. “I think you see a lot of senators run for office for different reasons. One of the goals for if I won the election was to sit everyone down and talk about why we’re all here and help become more unified,” Bittinger said. One of the major issues Bittinger sees on campus is intentionality. He wants to make sure everyone is being intentional with what they’re doing, whether its advocating for students or even paying bills. “Is this the best practice? Is this the best job we can be doing?” he asked. The General Assembly of Pennsylvania will confirm Bittinger as a member of the PASSHE Board of Governors this fall, in either September
or October. As a member of the board, it is his duty to advocate for the perspective of students to individuals creating policy that affects the schools in the state system. He also receives a vote to help speak for the students. Bittinger is not alone on campus. He is accompanied by his identical twin brother, Jaren, who is a community coordinator for resident life on campus. “He [Jaren is] my rock, if you will — my support system on campus,” Bittinger said. “He’s truly a fantastic individual.” Bittinger prides himself on his value for advocacy, service and intentionality. He wants to give a voice to all students, and encourages them to come to SGA meetings to bring up issues from around campus. “The precedent I have set for myself has always been, ‘How can I give back to whatever organization or affiliation I am apart of at that time?’” In what little free time Bittinger admitted he has, he likes to read books and play video games.
Read the full story at theslateonline.com.
Photo courtesy of Aven Bittinger
Seven tips for incoming students to start fresh Chaela Williams
Asst. Ship Life Editor
Meghan Schiereck/The Slate
Freshman are mainly housed in Seavers or Naugle.
The pressures of making your parents proud and achieving a great GPA in your first year of college is stressful for any first-year student. Many struggle to find success and are left wondering how to thrive at Shippensburg University. Here is some advice to make your transition from high school to college as easy as possible. Attend classes: This may seem like a no-brainer but it is easy to slip through the cracks and skip classes. Many courses on campus factor in attendance as part of the grade. By regularly attending class, you have a better chance at understanding the material
and getting a better grade on projects and exams. Most classes have a policy that if students miss a certain amounts of classes, they will fail the course regardless of how well they were doing in the course. Do not be afraid to ask for help: It is hard sometimes to open up and ask for assistance. If you are getting bad grades on assignments, do not be afraid to ask the professor for help. All professors have office hours for this reason. If you are feeling mentally unwell, it is okay to reach out to the Etter Health Center located behind Naugle Hall. Practice time management: Pulling an all-nighter and still getting an “A” might
have been easy in high school but in college you might have multiple projects due on the same day. Start assignments two weeks before the due date to give yourself time to work on them. Do not start assignments last minute as that only leads to disaster. Get involved: Being a part of on campus organizations is a great way to network and gain new friends and experiences. Make a list of clubs you are interested in and sign up during the Student Involvement Service (SIS) fair. Take time deciding a major: Within your first year you might be indecisive and change your major multiple times. Freshman year is all about testing the waters and trying out different classes
and finding new interests. Stay healthy: Do not neglect your health. Make sure to eat well and get enough sleep. Keeping yourself active at the recreation center or gym will help clear your mind. Resident Hall Life: Try to get along with roommate(s) as much as possible. Make sure to write out guidelines at the beginning of the semester to establish rules. You do not have to be best friends with your roommate(s) but be cordial. The first year of college offers students a clean slate and provides many opportunities. Make sure to take advantage of student resources that can help you establish a career. SU can help better prepare you for your future self.
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
D1
A&E
Review: Stable Shakers release self-titled EP Olivia Riccio A&E Editor
The Chambersburg band Stable Shakers released its new self-titled extended play record (EP) on Aug. 23, just in time to give listeners the perfect music for the end of summer. Brechyn Chase and Shippensburg University alumnus Spencer Pheil formed Stable Shakers after the two shared the stage in different bands. Stable Shakers was born from the fact that Pheil’s father turned an old stable into a studio, called Stable Studio. Stable Shakers brings songs to which all listeners can relate. Chase and Pheil both favor “The Grind” off of the EP, which is about the daily grind of work. Pheil wrote it in 2006, and much like the rest of the songs on the EP, he felt it needed time to reach musical maturity. “I feel that the songs are universal regardless of age, gender, race, etc. A lot of us go through life lacking courage to follow dreams, questioning decisions and paths taken in life,” Pheil said. And that is what the listener can truly obtain from this EP. Stable Shakers’ music can be described as Americana/folk, and Pheil has dab-
Photo courtesy of Stable Shakers
Although Stable Shakers are not touring currently, they plan to tour in 2020. They have local upcoming shows from Maryland to Pennsylvania. bled in country jazz, blues, bluegrass and more. This is reflected in their songs like “The Grind” and “Long Way Down,” which features a beautiful piano solo. The EP is a mix of different instruments from all genres that seamlessly work together. The EP takes listeners along the band and Pheil’s journey through life and can easily accompany the listener in the car as a soundtrack for the end of summer.
In “Summer Song,” Chase’s peaceful vocals and lyrics reflect on summer and never wanting it to end. “Change” is a song that highlights the trials and tribulations of change, and the universal experience of it. Chase’s powerful vocals in this track capture not only Pheil’s journey as a musician, but also can relate to the listener.
Read the full story at theslateonline.com.
Story Slam coming home to Ship Olivia Riccio A&E Editor
Story Slam will be “coming home” to Shippensburg’s Appalachian Brewing Company for the first time on Sept. 12. Story SLAM will be a live story telling contest, where participants have to create a story based on a theme each month. September’s theme will be “Coming Home,” and the story must pertain to the month. Other rules from the event website include that the story must be five minutes long, and the story should be true and feature the con-
testant as the main character. They also cannot use notes or props. Shippensburg is the newest location for Story Slam, and it has been held in cities and counties such as Lancaster, West Chester, Delco, Lehigh Valley and York. Business ownders in Shippensburg came together to create this new event. Shippensburg Story Slam will be held every second Thursday of the month, starting Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. To learn more about Shippensburg Story Slam and purchase tickets, which are $5, visit shipstoryslam.org.
Luhrs reveals fall events line-up •
Napoleon Dynamite Live: A Conversation with Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez and Jon Gries, Plus a Movie Screening – Sept. 14, 8 p.m.
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Reo Speedwagon – Sept. 18, 7:30 p.m.
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Alan Parsons Live Project – Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m.
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Collective Soul – September 22, 7:30 p.m.
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George Thorogood and The Destroyers – October 8, 7:30 p.m.
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Josh Gates Live: Tales of Ghosts, Monsters, and Tales of Adventure – Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m.
1. Angel Has Fallen
7:00 p.m.
2. Good Boys
7;45 p.m.
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Scotty McCreery – October 20, 7:30 p.m.
3. The Angry Birds Movie 2
5:00 p.m.
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So You Think You Can Dance Live 2019! – October 25, 7:30 p.m.
4. Ready or Not
7:40 p.m.
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Blues Traveler – 25th Anniversary of FOUR Tour – November 2, 7:30 p.m.
5. The Lion King
7:20 p.m.
6. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobb and Shaw
7: 15 p.m.
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BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical – November 7, 7:30 p.m.
7. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
7:30 p.m.
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Jeanne Robertson – November 8, 7:30 p.m.
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Pablo Cruise – November 9, 7:30 p.m.
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Rent 20th Anniversary Tour – November 20, 7:30 p.m.
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Shippensburg University Orchestra Fall Concert – November 24, 3 p.m.
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A Magical Cirque Christmas – November 29, 7:30 p.m.
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National Ballet Theatre of Odessa, Ukraine, Swan Lake – November 30, 7:30 p.m.
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Manheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis – December 8, 7:30 p.m.
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Lewis Black: The Jokes on US Tour 2019 – December 12, 7:30 p.m.
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Michael W. Smith’s “Christmas”– December 15, 6 p.m.
Movie Showtimes Showtimes for Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 27 and 28 at AMC Classic 7 in Chambersburg
Shows
Times
Billboard Top 10 1. Bad Guy - Billie Eilish
6. No Guidance - Chris Brown feat. Drake
2. Senorita - Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello
7. I Don’t Care - Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber
3. Old Town Road - Lil Nas X
8. Ran$om - Lil Tecca
4. Truth Hurts - Lizzo
9. Goodbyes - Panic! At The Disco
5. Talk - Khalid
10. If I Can’t Have You - Shawn Mendes
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Sports
Football, E2
E1
Women’s XC, E2
Photo courtesy of Jon Holtz/Slippery Rock Sports Info.
The Raiders celebrated on the field after winning their third consecutive NCAA Division II national championship. This year’s team is primarily the same as last year’s, outside of losing goalkeeper Ally Mooney to graduation. The team, led by Jazmin Petrantonio, is primed to make another NCAA tournament run this season.
Field hockey sets out to defend three-peat Matt Gregan
Asst. Sports Editor
The last time the Shippensburg University field hockey team was seen on the field, it celebrated its third straight NCAA Division II National Championship win. This year’s team is mostly the same group of players, outside of losing one of its leaders to graduation, redshirt senior Ally Mooney. Mooney played a major role in the team’s success as the starting goalkeeper as well as being one of the team’s leaders. She was elected team captain each of the previous two seasons. Tara Zollinger, the Raiders’ head coach, talked about how it will be a team effort to replace Mooney on the field. “Mooney will definitely be missed, but I’m very confident in our new goalkeeping group and in our veteran players in front of that goalkeeper that will together be able to help manage the loss of Mooney,” Zollinger said. Stepping into the goalkeeper position for the Raiders this season is a combination of redshirt sophomore
Megan Lay, who only played a total of 96:53 last season, and redshirt freshman Meg Thompson. “Whoever is performing that week and doing the best job that week, that’s the person who is going to earn the most playing time,” Zollinger said when asked about who will be the team’s starting goalkeeper. “We are unsure of that [the team’s starting goalkeeper] yet because it is so early in preseason. We are happy with our goalkeepers right now, we feel like they are doing a good job,” Zollinger said. It helps that the Raiders have an experienced group of defenders, led by seniors Mikayla Cheney and Rosalia Cappadora and junior Caitlyn Wink, playing in front of their young goalkeeper tandem. Zollinger said she has been impressed with the defender’s ability to quickly learn and develop chemistry with the new goalkeepers. The Raiders also have the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s (PSAC) top scoring offense from last season to help ease the burden on the team’s young goalkeeper duo.
Led by junior Jazmin Petrantonio (23 goals and 62 points last season), the Raiders’ offense has shown the ability to score nearly at will last season. Having a team that can put up more than three goals per game like they did last season will go a long way toward helping continue the team’s success despite losing Mooney to graduation. Losing Mooney is not the only potential struggle that the Raiders will have heading into the upcoming season. Coming off of winning a national championship presents a different kind of challenge for the team, albeit one that it is used to after winning the title the last three seasons. Players oftentimes can struggle to stay focused on improving their play on the field throughout the offseason after winning a national championship. However, Zollinger does not feel that it will be an issue. “We are very proud of our past, but it’s our past. We are very hyper focused on living in the moment and being mindful of each day and staying in the game week,” Zollinger said. “Just focusing
on playing week by week by week and not getting ahead of ourselves and not looking back on the things we have accomplished before.” Taking it one game at a time has been something that Zollinger has stressed to the team ever since taking over the head coaching duties from the now retired Bertie Landes two years ago. Zollinger took over an already successful Shippensburg field hockey program, but she has done a good job of continuing the success and maintaining a good chemistry in the locker room. She consistently stresses the importance of holding each player accountable to the standards and values that the team has developed over the last couple of years. Another reason why Zollinger is not worried about the “championship hangover” is because she feels that every season brings new goals and new expectations. “Every year I think that’s the beauty of collegiate sports, it’s one of the reasons why I love being a college coach. Every year you graduate players and every year you have newcomers com-
ing in,” Zollinger said. “It’s a completely new challenge every single year regardless of how the previous year ended, good or bad. You have a new opportunity to set goals and pursue the goals.”
As the SU field hockey program racks up national titles, expectations continue to skyrocket. But as they have shown for three consecutive years, these Raiders are able to answer the call.
Photo courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.
Jazmin Petrantonio led the way for the Raiders’ offense last season, scoring a PSAC-leading 23 goals.
Women’s soccer shoots for rebound season Isaiah Snead
Asst. Sports Editor
Photo courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.
Izzy Weigel led the Raiders last season in both points (13) and goals (six) last season. The team will need Weigel to put together another good season if it is to take the next step and make a run in the PSAC tournament.
The Shippensburg University women’s soccer team looks to improve upon its disappointing 2018 season, which they finished 7-10-1. It will do so without seven departing seniors: Chloe Flemion, Kiersten Priest, Keegan White, Beth McGee, Mariah Varner, Lexi Albert and Lauren Krenzke. SU does return 17 players, however, including last season’s leading scorer: senior Izzy Weigel. Weigel racked up 15 goals in her first two Raider seasons after spending her freshman season at Bridgewater College. Junior goalkeeper Delaney Shifflett also returns after finishing ranked second in saves last season with 126, and ranking fourth in save percentage at .863. Weigel and Shifflett will be
joined on the field by 11 incoming freshmen including Alyse Caffrey from Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, Sydney Miller from Bensalem High School and Sakiah Veur who is a transfer from West Chester University. These freshmen will look to have an immediate impact on the team. As a team, SU routinely found itself in the middle of the pack statistically during the 2018 season. The Raiders were 12th in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in shots, taking 223 of them with an average of 12.39 shots a game. They ranked ninth in goals, making 24 of them while averaging 1.3 a game. Shippensburg also allowed 26 goals last season, an average of 1.4 per game, which ranked 11th in the PSAC. They were also a rough team with an average of 9.3 fouls
each game, which ranked near the bottom of the conference at 15th. This season, the PSAC has been split into an eastern and western division, with Shippensburg landing in the eastern division. The Raiders will play a double round robin regular season slate against fellow eastern division members Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shepherd and West Chester. The top four teams from each division will play in the new, modified postseason tournament. Shippensburg was voted seventh in the 2019 PSAC Eastern Division preseason coaches’ poll. The Raiders kick off their season Sept. 5 at home against the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown.
SPORTS
E2
August 27, 2019
Photos courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.
Brycen Mussina, seen dropping back to pass in a game last season, is set to lead the Raiders’ offense this season. The redshirt sophomore’s play on the field should improve after gaining one year of experience leading the team’s offense. Last season, as a redshirt freshman, he threw for 32 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
Football looks to return to postseason Chris Wurtz Sports Editor
When the 2019 season kicks off, the Shippensburg University football team will look to put together a winning season for the ninth consecutive year under coach Mark “Mac” Maciejewski. But, the Red Raiders will also have their thoughts set on something bigger than that: a return to the playoffs. After a 10-1 2017 regular season that earned the Red Raiders a spot in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, SU took a step back in 2018. A regular season record of 6-5 extended Shippensburg’s run of consecutive winning seasons, but left them on the outside looking in at the playoff picture. Expectations have been tempered heading into the Red Raiders’ 2019 campaign, as SU was recently voted fourth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division in the annual preseason coaches’ poll. The poll is taken by the head coaches of all 16 PSAC football schools. Shippensburg is slated be-
hind West Chester University, Shepherd University and Kutztown University in the poll, each of whom they will play in October this season. The Red Raiders are set to bring back an ample amount of talent from an offensive unit that ranked fourth in the PSAC in points per game in 2018. The high-octane offense thrives through the air, as its 142 passing first downs ranked second in the PSAC behind only Slippery Rock University. The Red Raiders also excelled on third and fourth down. Their 39% conversion rate on third down ranked fifth in the PSAC, while their 62% conversion rate on fourth down led the conference by a wide margin. Their success starts with reigning PSAC East Freshman of the Year Brycen Mussina. The redshirt-sophomore quarterback exceeded all expectations in 2018, totaling 3,376 passing yards and 32 passing touchdowns. Each of those marks led the conference by a wide margin and rank third-best in the history of SU football.
Winston Eubanks catches one of his eight touchdowns last season. Last season, he developed a good connection with quarterback Brycen Mussina. The primary beneficiary of Mussina’s passing prowess is set to be redshirt-senior wide receiver Josh Gontarek, the reigning PSAC East Offensive Player of the year. Gontarek racked up 74 re-
ceptions for 1,097 yards and nine touchdowns in 2018. All three marks were among the top two performances in the conference. Gontarek and redshirt-junior wide receiver Winston
Eubanks – who totaled 755 receiving yards of his own last season – were each recognized as First-Team AllPSAC in 2018 and appear primed to lead a dominant aerial assault in 2019.
The Red Raider defense has more question marks, however, as the unit finished 10th in the conference in points allowed per game in 2018. Shippensburg also lost a trio of defensive leaders to graduation in Richard Nase, Dakota Thompson and Tyler Emge. Thompson and Emge were All-PSAC Eastern Division First Team honorees in 2018, and Nase earned Second Team recognition. Additionally, Nase was a four-time All-PSAC team qualifier. The departing seniors certainly leave behind significant holes to fill. But if any coach can handle such a task, it’s Maciejewski. A former Red Raider himself, the defensive-minded head coach has faced similar obstacles en route to eight consecutive winning seasons. The Red Raiders’ first step towards another winning season – and a playoff berth, perhaps – comes at the season opener on Saturday, September 7 at 1 p.m. at SU Student Association Field at Seth Grove Stadium.
Women’s cross county looks to continue success Chris Wurtz Sports Editor
After the departure of a handful of its top runners, the Shippensburg University women’s cross country team returns in 2019 with a revamped roster and elite potential. Coach Steve Spence coached the Raiders to a strong 2018 campaign that included a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship, a third place finish at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships and an 11th consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II National Championships. But after losing All-PSAC seniors Jackie Kinkead and Lindsey Gerlach to graduation, and having junior Maria Antoni transfer, there were holes to fill in the squad’s scoring lineup. However, between a formidable freshman class and three incoming transfers, the transition is expected to be seamless. That notion was supported by the annual PSAC Women’s Cross Country coaches’ poll that is put together by the conference’s coaches each preseason. SU was voted to finish
second among 17 teams in the conference, receiving six of the possible 17 first-place votes. Only Edinboro University was voted higher than Shippensburg, receiving the remaining 11 first-place votes. The highest-scoring returning runner for the Raiders is junior Bella Marchini. A breakout 2018 season ended with a splash as Marchini finished sixth overall at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships. She carries a 6,000 meter run personal best of 22:35 – achieved at Lehigh University’s Paul Short Run – into her junior season. The six-runner freshman class is led by Isabelle Gulgert out of South Lakes High School in Virginia. Gulgert, a district champion on the track in the 1,600 meter and 3,200 meter run, boasts a high school cross country 5,000 meter run personal best of 18:45. Emily Montag, a freshman from Forest Hills High School, joins the Raiders with a 5,000 meter run personal best of 19:07. Montag was a two-time district VI cross country medalist at Forest Hills, notching a runner-up
finish in 2015 and a district championship in 2017. Recent Owen J. Roberts High School graduate Mackenzie Kurtz carries a 19:33.50 personal best in the 5,000 meter run into her freshman season at Shippensburg, while Amanda LaVana of Emmaus High School comes in with a best time of 20:39.
Of the three incoming transfers, Sydney Sirois appears most primed to make an immediate impact to the roster. Sirois joins the Raiders after two years of competing for the University of Southern Maine. In her sophomore season, Sirois earned All-Little East Conference honors after finishing ninth
at the conference championship meet. Her 6,000 meter run personal best of 24:02 slots right near the top of the projected scoring lineup, making an immediate contribution easy to imagine. Despite the influx of talent, Coach Spence faces the challenging task of making sure a locker room full of new
faces and personalities mixes well. But with the expansive history of success of the Shippensburg women’s cross country program, it is safe to expect the team to peak in the postseason once again. And if it does, they will be right in contention for nationals once again.
Photo courtesy of Matt Durisko
Members of the women’s cross country team celebrate after winning the 2018-2019 PSAC championship.